Refrigerator



Jul 12, 1932. J. T. RAUEN M Q; L 1 e I. 3/ H g 1 IW" 22 2 20 1 2 27 m M4, 6: I: new

J. T. RAUEN July 12, 1932.

REFRIGERATOR Original Filed Aug. 25, 1926 2 Sheehshee 2 W flitzntox Patented July 12, i932 JOHN T. RAUEN, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T FEIGID- AIRE CORPORATION, A. CORPORATION OF DELAWARE REFRIGERATOR Application filed August 23, 1926. Serial No. 130,838. Renewed June 24, 1931.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus, and particularly to the construction of cabinets for use with such apparatus.

An object of this invention is to provide a cabinet of simple, economical, and durable 4 construction, and which may readily be assembled and disassembled for repairs to any part thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a refrigerator cabinet construction in which access may be conveniently had to the insulating walls of the food compartment, in

the'event it is desired to replace or repair any portion of this wall.

Another object of this invention is to provide a refrigerator cabinet having a moisture-proof insulating wall with which the use of hydrolene, or any other cement, is unnecessar A further object is to provide insulation means for a refrigerating cabinet which, though simple in construction, is as efficient in preventing the transfer of heat as the complicated and comparatively expensive means now used in the ordinary practice.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide an insulation made of cork or similar material, which is enclosed on all its sides by waterproof material, thereby preventing moisture from permeating the cork and causing obnoxious odors arising from wet cork, and by further preventing moisture from entering the insulation or between the insulation and the-surface of the inner metal lining and causing corrosion or freezing, with the resulting bulging of the walls being the portion to the left of line 3-3 in Fig. 2, and on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section onan enlarged scale, on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; f

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 66 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the cabinet comprises four upright posts 10 rigidly joined on at their extremities by horizontal strips 11, so as to form a. rectangular main frame. The lower part 12 of the cabinet serves as a machine compartment adapted to contain the apparatus necessary for mechanical refrigeration. The machine compartment 12 and the cooling compartment 13. are separated from each other by a sheet of metal 14, or any other suitable material, which is supported by means of strips 15 attached to the corner posts. Adjacent the front upright posts 10 and extending the length of the food compartment are the posts 16 of the door opening frame (see Fig. 2). This door opening frame comprises the two side posts 16, the cenl5 tral post 17 which serves as a door j amb, and corresponding upper and lower horizontal members 18. The posts 16 and members 18 of this door opening frame serve as means for supporting the food compartment metal linw ing 19. The open front box-shaped lining 19 'is flanged outwardly at all its front edges to form the flanges 20 which are drilled to receive suitable screws 21 for attaching the boxshaped lining 19 as a unit to the posts 16 and cross members 18. A cork gasket 22 is placed between the flanges 20 and the posts in order .to ensure a tight seal between these two members and to dampen any shocks which the lining may receive.

The insulation for the cooling. compartment comprises blocks 23 which may be of corkboard, or any other material having similar insulating qualities. Gorkboard is particularly liable to absorb moisture, thereby causing the cork to rot, thus producing a very disagreeable odor and at the same time decreasing the effectiveness of the cork as an insulating material. Furthermore, moisture I absorbed by the cork has a tendency'to freeze, X

thereby causingthe cork to bulge, which detracts fromthe appearance of the cabinet. For

{ on all its surfaces or along one or more of its edges with a sheet of impermeable material 24:, such as waterproofed builders paper, which has been found to be very satisfactory for this purpose. The wrapped paper is held in place by a suitable means, such as adhesive means.

The insulating blocks 23 are so proportioned that when they are placed adjacent the lining 19, they will make a snug fit with the corner posts 10 and with each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. While they will normally remain in place by their wedging action on each other. small wood strips 25 are provided as an additional precaution to hold the blocks in place. These strips are fastened to the corner posts 10 by suitable means, such as nails 26.

This cork insulation is provided for the top, bottom, rear and side walls of the food compartment, while the front of the compartment is closed by the heat insulating doors 27, thereby rendering the food compartment well insulated from the surrounding atmosphere and from the machine compartment. The cabinet is finished with a sheet metal cover composed of side walls 28, a rear wall 29 and a top wall 30. The edges at the junc tion of these walls are finished with polished metal strips 31, which' seal the joints at these points and also add to the appearance of the cabinet.

cover 32.

The side walls 28 are spaced from the insulating wall 23 by the strips 25 and the upright posts 10 (see Fig. 3). By this construction air pockets 33 are formed between the insulating walls and the metal side walls, which provides additional insulation for the food compartment. Also, if by any chance moisture should get into the cork insulating wall and freeze, the air space 33' will allow the cork to bulge to a considerable extent without exerting any action on the metallic side wall 28. By this provision, even though the insulating wall itself should bulge, its efiect would not be seen from the exterior and thereby detract from the appearance of the cabinet.

The rear metallic wall 29 is placed directly against the cork insulating wall and serves to hold the insulation material in place at this point, thereby eliminating the strips 25 at the rear of the cabinet. Any bulging which might take place in the cork insulation at the rear of the cabinet would not materially detract from its appearance, since it is a common practice to place this wall against the wall of the building in which the refrigerator is placed.

The front of the machine compart-' ment may be provided with a louvered metal While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a refrigerating cabinet, a lining for the cabinet; a cover for said cabinet substantially surrounding the lining; insulation for the cabinet interposed between the lining and the cover, said insulation comprising blocks of heat-insulating substance, each block being completely wrapped independently of saiil lining in a sheet of impermeable materia 2. In a refrigerating cabinet, a cooling compartment; a machine compartment; a lining for said cooling compartment; a cover for said cooling and machine compartments substantially surrounding the compartments; insulation means for the cooling compartment, said means comprising blocks of heat-insulating substance, each block being completely wrapped independently of said cover in a sheet of impermeable material.

3. In a refrigerating cabinet, a frame; an inner lining for the cabinet; an outercover for said cabinet surrounding the frame; in-

sulation for the cabinet interposed between the lining and the cover, said insulation comprising blocks of heat-insulating substance, each block being completely wrapped in a sheet of impermeable material; and means for fastening the wrapped blocks snugly against the lining and separating them from the cover.

4. In a refrigerating cabinet, a frame; a cooling compartment; a machine compartment; an inner lining for said cooling compartment; a common cover for said cooling and machine compartments surrounding the frame; insulation means for the cooling compartment, said means comprising blocks of heat-insulating substance, each block being completely wrapped in asheet of impermeable material; and means for fastening the wrapped blocks snugly against said lining and spacing them from said cover.

5. In a refigerating cabinet, a frame; an inner lining for the cabinet; an outer cover for said cabinet surrounding the frame; insulation for the cabinet. interposed between the lining and the cover, said insulation comprising blocks of heat-insulating substance, each block being completely wrapped in a sheet of impermeable material; and spaced strips fastening the wrapped blocks snugly against the lining and spacing them from the cover.

nec'aeea stantially stifi heat insulating substance com pl-tly watcr proofed on all sides, the Sldti parallel to the direction of heat flow being water-proofed with nonconducting material, one of the sides being water-proofed by a sheet of flexible material constituting an expansion diaphragm.

7. In a refrigerating cabinet, a lining for the cabinet; a cover for said cabinet substan tially surrounding the lining; insulation for the cabinet interposed between the lining and I the cover, said insulation comprising blocks of corkboard, each block being completely wrapped independently of said cover in a sheet of impermeable material.

8. In a refrigerating cabinet, a cooling compartment; a machine compartment; a lining for said food compartment; a common cover for said cooling and machine compartments substantially surrounding the compartments; insulation means for the cooling compartment, said means comprising blocks of corkboard, each block being vcompletely wrapped in a sheet of impermeable material.

9. In a refrigerating cabinet, a lining for the cabinet; a cover for said cabinet substantially surrounding the lining; insulation for the cabinet interposed between the'lining and the cover, said insulation comprising blocks of corkboard, each block being completely wrapped in a sheet of waterproofed paper.

10. In a refrigerating cabinet, a cooling compartment; a machine compartment; a lining for said food compartment; a common cover for said cooling and machine compartments substantially surrounding the compartments; insulation means for the cool- .1ng compartment, said means comprising blocks of corkboard, each block being completely wrapped in a sheet of waterproofed paper. y t

In testimony whereofI hereto afiix my signature.

JOHN T. RAUEN. 

